Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Shrewdness (03/07/05)
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TITLE: Second Chances | Previous Challenge Entry
By Suzanne Shepard
03/13/05 -
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“Ms. Parker?” Carla began timidly. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes, Carla, come in. Sit down please. I have a few things I need to speak to you about today.”
Ms. Parker put her pencil down on her paper-strewn desk as she turned her swivel chair around to face Carla. “Carla,” she began with a reserved tone in her voice that made Carla swallow hard, “You’ve been here for three months now and today I want us to discuss your job performance.” She motioned for Carla to unfold the spare chair leaning up against the file cabinet in her cramped little office.
“Okay Carla, something happened yesterday that really disturbs me. Do you have any idea what I might be referring to?’
Carla’s thoughts immediately flashed back to yesterday afternoon when she did something she never thought she would ever find herself doing. Her head dropped in shame as she very vividly recalled the incident she knew Ms. Parker was addressing.
“Dear Jesus,” Carla gave a split second cry for help, “Please give me the courage to speak the truth, Amen.”
“Yes, Ms. Parker, I stole something yesterday, is that what you are talking about?”
“You know it is Carla. I have to say that I am extremely disappointed in you. What on earth were you thinking? I am so upset with you, I can hardly speak.” Ms. Parker said with obvious distress in her voice. “I had such high hopes for you, Carla. You have a lot going for you here…you are one of my very best employees.”
Gulping back tears, Carla tried to speak. Her voice cracked as she attempted to explain her actions of the day before. “Ms. Parker, I am sooooo sorry. Honest, I don’t know why I did what I did. I have no excuse to give you. Please, forgive me. I will do anything you want me to do, just PLEASE don’t fire me! I love my job here.” Her heart was so heavy and yet she knew she did not deserve to be forgiven or kept for any reason. The tears flowed heavy and warm down Carla’s cheeks.
Ms. Parker leaned forward, elbows braced on her desk, hands covering her eyes as she struggled to decide Carla’s fate. After a few seconds of silence, she turned her chair once again to face Carla.
“Well, Carla, this goes against my better judgment, but for some reason, I feel that the Lord wants me to forgive you and give you another chance. But I will tell you this; if I see ANYTHING that even remotely looks like an act of dishonesty from you again, there will be no more mercy – you will be dismissed immediately! Do you understand?”
Eyes cast towards the floor, Carla quietly muttered, “Yes Ma’am. Thank you so much, Ms. Parker, I will not let you down. Please take the money I owe out of my paycheck this Friday and I promise I will NEVER do this again!”
“Okay, young lady, now dry those tears and get to work.” She extended her arms to envelope Carla with a hug and as she did Carla prayed, “Lord, I am so grateful for your mercy. Forgive me Jesus for the wrong I have done and help me to prove my worth to her in a way that will glorify you. Amen.”
In the days that followed, Carla searched for fresh ideas and new opportunities to polish her customer service and marketing skills. Her new-found enthusiasm began to rub off on her fellow employees. They began to enjoy the challenges that were given to them to promote the new product lines each month.
Carla spent time dreaming up new promotions to increase sales and encouraged her co-workers to participate in friendly store-wide competitions. Immediate benefits were made evident as the store revenues began to increase. Carla not only used the grace she was given to better her own work performance, but used it to encourage every one else as well.
She learned several great lessons in one humiliating day. Lessons she would not soon forget… lessons of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and trust. Stealing is always wrong, but Carla realized that if she asks for God’s forgiveness and help, He will always be there to turn her failures into successes for Him.
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